The Best Beauty Secrets Handed Down For Generations

When it comes to beauty advice, the best tips and tricks are not necessarily the newest, but the old-fashioned “tested by the ages” basics that our parents and grandparents swore by. From glowing skin to silky hair, whiter teeth and fewer wrinkles, we’ve pulled together ten of the best beauty secrets passed down through the generations.

Hydrate

Celebrity makeup artist Brittney Ward swears by her grandmother’s method of using water to fight off a dull, tired complexion. “My grandmother would drink plenty of water and keep skin hydrated with a mist spray while we travelled. She taught me water is the key to healthy skin.” Today hydration can come in many forms, whether it be mist spray, moisturiser with SPF, or simply a bottle of water for drinking.
Brittney Ward, IamBrittneyW.com

Shave With Shea Butter

Bolden co-founder Chinelo Chidozie grew up in West Africa, the home of shea butter, and credits her mom for turning her on to the oil for shaving. “Instead of shaving with shaving cream or soap, my mom uses shea butter oil. It leaves skin super moisturised, and helps to prevent nicks and bumps. I recently started using it myself, and now I cannot imagine using anything else.”
Chinelo Chidozie, boldenusa.com

Sleep On Silk

Beauty and style blogger Sheridan Becker shared one of her great-grandmother’s words of wisdom: sleep on a silk pillowcase. Silk not only has a much smoother surface compared to other fabrics, which reduces tugging, pulling, and creasing, but it also helps skin and hair retain moisture. The result? Smoother and (dare we say) silkier strands and skin. Plus, as Sheridan puts it, “Sleeping on silk pillowcases is dreamy!”
Sheridan Becker, instagram.com/wileyybecker

Take Care Of Your Hands

Remember seeing photos of our grandmothers’ grandmothers wearing gloves? According to Julie Pankey of JMPankey Partners, they were onto something. “Take care of your hands,” she says. “Exfoliate, moisturise and use sunscreen. They show the signs of aging first.” Other tips include wearing gloves when cleaning (the harsh chemicals can break skin down prematurely), taking good care of nails and cuticles, and applying your favourite anti-ageing face cream to your hands as well.
Julie Pankey, jmpankey.com

Multitask With Argan Oil

Ahmed Jeriouda, founder of the beauty line Moroccan Elixir, credits his family for his love of argan oil. “Growing up, my family of women all used argan oil for a variety of reasons: hair, acne, anti-aging and wrinkles, and even to improve cellulite.” Argan oil contains high levels of essential fatty acids, which protect and repair skin and hair, as well as Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that neutralises free radicals and helps slow the aging process.
Ahmed Jeriouda, moroccanelixir.com

Lipstick As Blush

Looking for a youthful flush and dewy cheeks? Celebrity makeup artist Leslie Munsell keeps a tip in her beauty arsenal that she learned from her grandmother. “I love cream blush,” she says. “Even if it means repurposing a bit of lipstick as blush to give a little pop of color. My grandma used to do this in the ladies room.” The key is to keep it light – a little goes a long way.
Leslie Munsell, beautyforreal.com

“The 30 Splashes”

Beauty expert Harvey Helms learned a unique water ritual from his mother that he credits for clearing acne in his teen years and just generally giving him a great complexion. Invented by Dr. Erno Laszlo, it’s called “The 30 Splashes” and goes like this: fill sink with comfortably hot water, massage water and cleanser of choice into skin for 30 seconds, splash face 20 times with hot soapy water, drain and refill with clear warm water, splash 10 more times and follow with moisturizer.
Harvey Helms, harveyhelmsbeauty.com

Parsley Tea Ice Cubes

Maria Nazelie, co-founder and President of Nazelie Skincare, follows a tradition set by her great-grandmother of freezing parsley tea into ice cubes as part of her beauty routine. “I apply parsley ice cubes to my face in the morning to freshen and tone my skin,” she says. The cool touch of ice tightens pores while the parsley contains vitamins A and C, powerful antioxidants that brighten and refresh the complexion.
Maria Nazelie, nazelie.com

Drink Bone Broth

Bone broth is a centuries-old nutritional staple that should be called “beauty broth”, according to skincare expert Mila Moursi. Bone broth contains collagen and gelatin to boost skin, hair and nail growth, and numerous amino acids to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Bone broth can be purchased online or in-store, or easily made at home by simmering leftover dinner bones and seasoning the broth to taste.
Mila Moursi, bonafideprovisions.com

Oil Pulling For Brighter Teeth

Dr Leslie Renee Townsend, DDS., relies on the centuries-old ancient Indian practice of oil pulling as a beauty trick for whitening teeth. “Oil pulling can be a natural replacement to harsh chemical whitening products,” she says. It’s also inexpensive and easy. Just swish a tablespoon of oil in the mouth for 10-20 minutes (sesame, coconut, sunflower and olive are all good choices). Spit and rinse when done. Repeat weekly.
Dr. Leslie Renee Townsend, DDS., jeffersondentalclinics.com

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Article by Rigel Celeste